December 7,1994
2
Campus Opinion
Editorial: Christmas is a time for giving not for getting
by Shannon Peterson
It is hard to believe that it is that
time of year again—Christmas. As it
creeps its way through the month of
December, children are mezmerized
with the thoughts of that old and jolly
myth of a man known as Santa Qaus
who they think will come down their
chimney with a sack full of toys thrown
casually over his shoulder. The
children’s eyes are glassy and filled
with excitement as they pull their par
ents’ hands through the overly-deco
rated toy stores in the mall and make
their demands for the toys that they
want.
The parents feed the children’s
imaginations of that plump and pipe
smoking man (who represents bad
health and almost encourages cavities
in the teeth of the little ones who
receive candy in their stockings) by
threatening them to be nice or Santa
won’t bring them anything. I must
hand it to them, though; using that
phrase is a nice little way to straighten
up the kids because as soon as the
Christmas tree was up in our house, I
never again saw my younger brother
misbehave until he got his toys on
Christmas Day.
Children think only of getting, never
of giving. We naturally excuse their
selfishness because, after all, they are
just children. But why do adults play
along with them and pretend that a
cheerful, laughing man dressed in red,
black and white really does grant their
every toy wish and demand? It’s the
magic of Christmas, of course. This is
what Christmas is all about, isn’t it?
Not quite.
I always knew the true meaning of
Christmas, for I was blessed to have a
mother who would read the original
Christmas story to my bother and me
every Christmas Eve. However, I was
young and more concerned with get
ting gifts from family members instead.
It took growing older and tasting
the bitterness of life to make me truly
appreciate the real meaning of Christ
Meredith Herald
Editor in Chief
Christina Peoples
Layout Editor Shannon Peterson
Copy Editor Melissa Massengill
Features Editor Clarky Lucas
News Editor AddieTschamler
Photo Editor Jetson
Business Manager Carrie Shaw
Reporters Arinn Dixon, Ashley Peay, Kimberly Zucker,
Keri VanDoren, Kristine Stagg, Melissa Cloer,
Teresa Latham, MeaganCronauer,MarshaTutor,
Shannon Smith
Photographers Laura Ross, Jan Seate
Faculty Consultants Garry Walton, Rod Cockshutt, Nan Miller
Adviser Paula Daniels
Editorial Policy:
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opinions expressed in editorial columns do not necessarily reflect those of
the college administraiton, faculty or student body.
Letters to the Editor Policy:
Everyone in the Meredhh community is invited to writes letter to the editor.
All published letters must be typewritten with contact name, address and
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be withheld upon request.
The Herald reserves the right to place any other article submissions on file
until needed or to choose not to print them.
mas. I had a bad habit of taking my
family for granted years ago until our
perfect family picture was shattered
by divorce. I bit through all the anger
and confusion that I took out on both
of my parents and learned to love them
more than ever while I prayed for their
forgiveness. Christmas is so special to
me now because it is a season of giving
and loving. I am so thankful for my
family and their unconditional love for
me.
In today’s society, people think that
Christmas is a time for only exchang
ing brightly wrapped gifts between
one another under a multi-colored lit
Christmas tree. This is part of Christ
mas but only because it is tradition.
Everyone needs to remember whose
birthday we are celebrating. The ma
jority of the Christmas carols that we
sing from door to door while bundled
up in winter clothing were written to
rejoice the birth of Christ. Christmas
is also a time for warmth, love and
family; all of which tie in with Chris
tianity and make survival so much
easier. It is a time for thanking God for
all the blessings He has granted us.
Not everyone will have an elaborate
meal with all the trimmings on her
table. It won’t hurt to discard your
“bah-humbug" attitude and donate
canned goods or clothing to the Salva
tion Army or local shelter for battered
women. Christmas is a time for giv
ing; after all, didn’t God give us His
only son?
Letter to the Editor:
Meredith and Baptists are fair
In response to the editorial Nov. 16
which was entitled “Meredith Needs
to Acknowledge Lesbians in Policy,” I
would like to provide a contrasting
perspective.
In my opinion, Meredith does not
need to acknowledge lesbians in the
non-discriminatory admissions policy.
How could the board discriminate
when sexual preferences are un
known?
On the other hand, lesbians know
when they apply that Meredith is affili
ated with the Baptist denomination.
Hopefully they choose Meredith
for reasons other than their sexual
orientation.
The previous editorial prompts me
to ask just what it is really asking het
erosexuals to accept?
Open displays of sexual affection
between lesbians on campus?
That would be another issue alto
gether.
If anything, current codes of con
duct exist to promote educational goals
without the distraaions of possible
sexual confrontations of whatever
type.
Both heterosexuals and lesbians are
privately responsible for their sexual
preference and its expression outside
of the realm of academics.
Contrary to the previous article
which alluded to a stereotypical view
of Baptist, inherently they (with the
obvious exception of extremist sects)
are tolerant of dissenting opinions.
The image promoted by the media
often distorts what really is going on
with Baptists.
Study Baptist history for yourself.
While generally, Baptists still be
lieve that the best policy is abstinence,
they are tolerant of alternate lifestyles
that may be against their beliefs.
That would be a violation of moral
conscience and religious freedom.
As for the assumption that “good
Christians” should compromise their
moral beliefs, please note that Jesus
(Christ) was not morally apathetic.
He made a distinction between
accepting others as individuals who
are all loved by God and accepting
behavior that may have detrimental
consequences for the individual and
society.
We are all free to determine what
that means for ourselves.
The argument that the issues of
discrimination based on race are the
same as those of sexual orientation is
0 think) a fallacy of irrelevant conclu-
LETTER
see page seven